Team Sky's Chris Sutton Wins Stage 2 of 2011 Vuelta a Espana

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Team Sky's Chris Sutton Wins Stage 2 of 2011 Vuelta a Espana

Team Sky's 27-year-old Australian Chris Sutton had to wait for his sixth year as a professional cyclist to make his dream of winning a stage in a Grand Tour come true.

Team Sky's 27-year-old Australian Chris Sutton had to wait for his sixth year as a professional cyclist to make his dream of winning a stage in a Grand Tour come true. The way he outsprinted Team Omega Pharma-Lotto's Vicente Reynes once they passed the steep hill located in the final kilometer was a masterpiece. The victory comes the day after a disastrous team time trial the Sky team finished in twentieth position out of a tota lof 22 teams in contention.

"Team Sky was incredible today," the former track rider told Roadcycling.com and Roadcycling.mobi and added "They put me right to the front. We don't exactly have the perfect lead-out train here in the Vuelta, but what we do have strength in the team.

"All the boys were fantastic today, they went back and got bidons for me, they made sure I had enough food and drink all day. Bradley [Wiggins] looked after me for the last 20 kilometer along with Kurt-Asle Arvesen. Then I yelled at Thomas Löfkvist to go coming out of the roundabout with 2 kilometer to go, and he just went straight up the outside and took me to the front."

"I knew it was going to be hard. I waited and waited and I just jumped to the wheel of someone from Lotto (Reynes). When I looked back, I saw there was a gap. I thought, 'Alright, I've got this one.' I can't believe it because I've waited for such a long time to get my first Grand Tour victory. I was wondering if it would happen one day. With Garmin, I had won the team time trial of the 2008 Giro d'Italia, but I awaited an individual victory. It's a dream come true."

Sutton admitted that he had been disappointed with not being included in Team Sky's Tour de France roster for this year's Tour. But he understands the interest of Team Sky which has caused the team to be built around Wiggins for an attempt to a top 3 finish on GC.

"I don't think about that anymore," Sutton said and continued "My fans back home in Australia must be very happy. I'm sure they were in front of their TVs. I know that my mum is delighted."

In the overall Vuelta a Espana rankings Daniele Bennati took the lead from Team Leopard-Trek teammate Jakob Fuglsang. Team Liquigas-Cannondale's Peter Sagan in third overall.